Athletics at White Sox
Following a day off to explore the Windy City, the Oakland Athletics continue their visit to Chicago with the first of three games at the White Sox on Friday. The A's dropped two of three in Wrigley Field to begin their six-game road trip, capped by Wednesday's ugly 10-1 shellacking.
All-Star third baseman Matt Chapman went 0-for-3 and is 1-for-32 with 13 strikeouts over the last nine games for Oakland, which managed three hits in Wednesday's loss. "It doesn't feel good to be in the hunt like this and not feel like you're helping the team win," Chapman told the San Francisco Chronicle. "So there's no excuse, I'm not playing to my capabilities. I'm aware of it." The A's are a half-game behind Tampa Bay in the race for the second wild card in the American League and will turn to Mike Fiers in the series opener. The White Sox, who have won five of their last seven, turn to former Oakland hurler Ross Detwiler.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Mike Fiers (10-3, 3.46 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Ross Detwiler (1-2, 5.72)
Fiers came one out away from recording his fifth straight quality start Saturday against St. Louis, allowing a run and six hits to reach 10 wins for the second straight year. He started the run of quality starts with 7 2/3 scoreless innings versus the White Sox on July 12 at home. The Florida native is 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA in seven career starts versus Chicago.
Detwiler worked into the sixth inning for the second time this season in a loss at Philadelphia his last time out, allowing two runs in 5 2/3 frames. He struck out a season-high six while walking one and has issued only five free passes in 28 1/3 innings on the year. Marcus Semien and Mark Canha are 3-for-4 against the 33-year-old Detwiler, who was 2-4 in nine games with Oakland in 2016.
WALK-OFFS
1. Oakland swept three earlier meetings at home by a combined score of 21-5 and it has won 13 of the last 16 encounters.
2. Semien is 9-for-21 with two homers and three doubles during a five-game hitting streak.
3. MLB announced Thursday that the White Sox will play a game with the New York Yankees next year at the Field of Dreams in Iowa.